PARENTING INFO

Understanding Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders of childhood. The disorder is estimated to affect between 3 and 7 percent of school-aged children (American Psychiatric Association). The core symptoms of ADHD are developmentally inappropriate levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Much discussion has been focused lately on the behavioral characteristics of a child who has been prenatally exposed to alcohol and has been given the postnatal diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. At present, many researchers and clinicians are searching for a profile which will best describe the behavioral sequelae of FAS as well as methods to address the supposed behavioral excesses. Although the results of these searches do not yet provide a definitive behavioral profile, or "cluster" of behaviors that are descriptive of the syndrome, the day-to-day reality of raising a child with FAS has nonetheless led many to seek therapeutic interventions.

According to the Center for Adoption Research and Policy (1997), there are more than five million adopted persons living in the United States at this time and as many as one million families are currently seeking children to adopt. Many children exposed to alcohol and drugs find their way into the foster care system or are adopted by families who have concerns about later development. As a result, professionals and parents are interesting in how adoption affects the child emotional and social development.

The Maternal Substance Abuse and Child Development Study is under the direction of Claire D. Coles Ph.D., with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine. For more information, please contact: Claire D. Coles: ccoles@emory.edu ; Karen K. Howell: khowell@emory.edu